Johnny C. Taylor Jr., J.D., SHRM-SCP, has been named
the next president and CEO of SHRM. He will assume
the position in November.

For the past seven years, Taylor has been presidentand CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, wherehe is credited with raising the organization’s stature andfunding. The collegefund is the nation’slargest organizationexclusively represent-ing the black collegecommunity.

A longtime member of SHRM, Taylor served as chair
of SHRM’s board of
directors in 2005 and
2006.

“Johnny Tayloris a visionary leaderand accomplished HRstrategist who is committed to the continued advance-ment of the profession, and the board of directors looksforward to working with him,” said SHRM Board ChairCoretha M. Rushing, SHRM-SCP, when she announcedhis selection in June.

Taylor has a diverse background in leadership and people strategies across various organizations and industries.
Before joining the college fund, he was responsible for the
global HR function at IAC, a portfolio of publicly traded
media and Internet businesses. He later became CEO for
one of IAC’s operating companies. Taylor also served in
the dual roles of general counsel and senior vice president
of HR for Paramount Parks & Live Entertainment and as
vice president of HR at Blockbuster Entertainment.

In addition, he was a labor and employment partner
at the law firm McGuire Woods LLP and president of the
firm’s HR consulting function. He has served on multiple
for-profit and mission-driven boards.

Taylor holds a Juris Doctor degree with honors and a
Master of Arts with honors from Drake University. He
obtained a Bachelor of Science with general university
honors from the University of Miami.

Taylor will be the seventh CEO to lead SHRM. He
will succeed Henry G. “Hank” Jackson, who in January
announced his plans to retire at the end of the year. Jackson has led SHRM since 2010.

SHRM Foundation NamesNew Executive Director

Wendi Safstrom is the new executive director of the SHRM Foundation.

Safstrom previously served as vice president of programs and administration at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
(NRAEF).

Before joining NRAEF in 1999, she was HR manager for Leo Burnett
Co. and held recruiting and compensation and benefits positions with
Hyatt Hotels. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration
from Michigan State University.

At the SHRM Foundation, Safstrom will oversee the SHRM affiliate
that champions workforce and workplace transformation by providing
research, scholarships and opportunities for HR professionals to make a
difference in their local communities.

“Wendi Safstrom believes that, as the philanthropic organization
for SHRM, the SHRM Foundation should be known for providing help
and hope to HR professionals, while elevating the HR profession,” said
Henry G. “Hank” Jackson, SHRM’s president and CEO.

Safstrom replaces Mark Schmit, who retired as the Foundation’s
executive director after five years at its helm.

The SHRM Foundation was recently awarded a 4-star rating from
Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most-utilized charity evaluator, for its financial health, accountability and transparency.

For more information, visit www.shrmfoundation.org.

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